Fabric grooming device



Nov. 1, 1966 D. A. MARTIN FABRIC GROOMING DEVICE Filed Feb. 3, 1964 INVENTOR. Dawn 14. Marf/n Em/ W' Af/omey ited States Patent 3,281,912 FABRIC GROOMING DEVICE David A. Martin, 2375 Colgate Drive, Costa Mesa, Calif. Filed Feb. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 342,060 Claims. or. 26-28) This invention relates to articles for grooming clothing, and more particularly to devices for restoring the surface condition of matted and worn fabrics.

Various types of fabric, particularly those employed in clothing, tend to develop a matted appearance after a period of use. In addition to becoming matted, certain fabrics develop with use little round pellets, variously knOwn as fuzz balls or pills, which are rolled up groups of fibers which become entangled in the fibers of the fabric. The fuzz balls and matted appearance are particularly unsightly in a knitted fabric such as may be used in a sweater or similar garment and, if not contributing to the wear to which the garment is exposed, certainly limit the serviceability of the garment in that it no longer presents a new appearance. Even though a garment may still be serviceable for use, the matted or pelletized appearance of the fabric may discourage its owner from further use of the garment.

In order to eliminate the matted appearance of a fabric, it is necessary to lift or partially restore the nap of the fabric. This is difficult to do without a special device. Moreover, while fuzz balls may be removed by pulling them off by hand, this is necessarily a time-consuming task. Articles have been devised which purport to perform such functions but those which are known are generally unsatisfactory for this purpose. One particular article designed for use as a pill remover comprises a shaped wire screen having the capability of gripping the sweater pills to remove them from the fabric. Unfortunately, devices of this kind also snag the woven or knitted fabric with which they are used and may actually result in damage thereto. Furthermore, devices of this type are-designed more or less for one kind of fabric and do not work effectively over the wide range of weaves and knits from coarse to fine which are encountered in presently available fabrics.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide an improved device for grooming fabric.

It is an object of thi invention to provide an improved device for removing fiber pellets from knitted garments and for raising the nap of matted areas of a fabric.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a single device which may be used universally for grooming fabrics, whether they are woven or knitted, and without limitation as to the fineness or coarseness of the weave.

One particular arrangement in accordance with the invention comprises a two-piece structure for holding a sheet of a readily available and readily replaceable abrasive material, such as sandpaper. The holding structure has a base and handle member comprising a base portion and a handle affixed thereto. The base portion i adapted to receive the sheet of abrasive material which is easily held in place by a covering web member which fits over the sheet of abrasive material and engages the base portion. The base portion has an outer curved surface against which the abrasive sheet is held and which configures the abrasive sheet to a shape which exposes a substantial extent thereof to contact with a fabric with which the structure is to be used. The base portion is shaped to form a pair of non-parallel ridges along a pair of opposite edges thereof which mate with companion beveled edges of the web member to engage the latter when the device is assembled by sliding the web member over the abrading sheet into the base portion. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the web portion has a plurality 328L912 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 of lateral bars, slightly curved to match the outer curved surface of the base portion and intersecting the edges of the web member to define a plurality of openings permitting access to the sheet of abrasive material positioned between the web member and the base portion. The openings and bars in the web allow a controlled contact of the abrasive material with the knitted and woven fabrics for which the device is designed. By virtue of this aspect of the invention, the force of application and the effective area of contact with a fabric may be varied for different fabric materials, depending upon the angle at which the device is held as it is rubbed against the fabric. When the device is moved in a direction parallel to the bars, (transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device) the fabric being groomed is permitted to establish more extensive contact with the abrasive material so that the abrading effect is maximized. This orientation is employed with fabrics of heavy, coarsely woven materials such as tweeds and the like. However, when the device is moved in a direction perpendicular to the bars of the web member, the fabric being rubbed is pulled across the bars so that its contact with the abrasive material is necessarily relatively limited. Such an orientation results in minimum effective contact with the fabric and is employed with finely woven or knitted fabrics, such as nylons in sweaters and such. An intermediate degree of contact may be achieved by holding the device at 45 with the direction of application. Thus, the use of a single device of the type corresponding to the invention eliminates the need for a plurality of devices of different sizes for different fabrics. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the web member is adhesively affixed to the base member. However, if it is desired to employ abrasive material of different grades or sizes, the device may be assembled without adhesive for easy disassembly so that it is a simple matter to replace one sheet of abrasive material positioned in the device with another of a different grade or size, since the web member which holds the sheet of abrasive material against the base portion of the device is then readily removable and replaceable therein. The web member and base portion are fabricated with corresponding mating surfaces and contours so that the two pieces readily hold together without adhesive. Moreover, if desired, other holding means may be provided such as various stud portions and mating recesses on the respective members.

The base and handle portion of the device is preferably fabricated as a single part, being designed for easy fabrication as a unitary structure by molding it from such light-weight inexpensive materials as thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, glass, or the like. If desired, however, the base and the handle can be fabricated separately and subsequently assembled together. The web portion is also preferably fabricated from the same light-weight inexpensive material as is employed in the base and handle portion. Plastics of various contrasting colors may be employed so as to achieve an attractive appearance at low cost in a practical and useful article.

A better understanding of the invention may be had from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one particular arrangement in accordance with the invention showing a fabric grooming device assembled and ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2.2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is an exploded View of the arrangement of FIG. 1 taken from the forward end thereof and showing the manner in which the various portion of the device fit together; and

FIG. 4 is an end view, taken from the handle end, of the base and handle portion of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the fabric grooming device in accordance with the invention comprises a base and handle member 12 and a web member 16 which are arranged to engage a sheet 17 of abrasive material such as sandpaper in a sandwich configuration. The base and handle member 12 consists of a handle 13 and a base 14 which in one preferred embodiment are molded in a unitary configuration. The handle 13 is a hollow elongated member enclosed on three sides and adapted to fit the palm of the hand as the handle is gripped to hold the fabric grooming device in proper position for use. The web member 16 comprises a pair of opposite edges 21 joined by a plurality of substantially parallel bars 18 which define a plurality of elongated openings in the webbed member 16. As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the base portion 14 of the member 12 presents an outer curved surface bounded on two opposite sides by a pair of raised. non-parallel ridges 20. Similarly, the opposite edges 21 of the web member 16 are non-parallel at the same angle and are slightly beveled to mate with the interior surfaces of the ridges 20. Thus, a device 10 may be assembled by placing a sheet 17 of abrasive material such as sandpaper on the upper curved surface of the base portion 14, then placing the web member 16 on top of the sheet 17 in a position slightly forward of its position in engagement with the base portion 14, and thereafter sliding the web member 16 rearwardly along the base portion 14 toward the handle 13 until the beveled edges 21 of the web member 16 engage the interior surfaces of the ridges 20 along the opposite edges of the base portion 14. The entire structure 10 may be thus held in its assembled configuration until it is desired to disassemble the unit, at which time the structure is disassembled very simply by sliding the web member 16 forwardly away from the handle 13 until its beveled edges 21 are free of the ridges 20, at which time the web member 16 may be removed from contact with the base portion 14 and the sheet 17 may be removed. However, I prefer to apply a suitable adhesive along the beveled edges of the web member 16 so that the entire structure is held together, once assembled.

The fabric grooming device 10 in accordance with the invention may be used by rubbing it against a fabric to remove the undesirable fuzz balls and to raise the nap of matted areas. The sharp corners and edges of the grit of the abrasive sheet produce an abrading effect and apparently catch in the individual loose fibers of the fabric without snagging the threads or yarns thereof. Thus the fuzz balls are removed and the matted fibers are combed and raised up to the original nap appearance by this action without straining or destroying the original structure of the threads or yarns comprising the fabric. Moreover the fuzz balls removed by the grooming device of the invention do not cling to the device, thus eliminating a problem which has been found to exist with previously known fuzz ball removers.

It may be seen from a consideration of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the bars 18 of the web member 16, together with the openings defined thereby, provide for a variation in the abrading effect as the device 10 is used in restoring the original appearance of particular fabrics. Moving the device 10 in a transverse direction, i.e. in a direction substantially parallel to the bars 18, across a fabric provides a maximum contact and a maximum abrading effect of the fabric involved; the device 10 would be used in this manner in conjunction with relatively deep piled or loosely woven heavy materials such as are used in heavy sweaters, tweed jackets, and the like. However, where a tightly woven light material is involved, the device 10 is employed by rubbing it across the fabric in a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the bars 18. This results in the fabric material being lifted out of contact with the surface of the abrasive sheet 17 each time it crosses one of the bars 18, thu limiting the degree of effective contact and the abrading effect. In this manner, by varying the directional orientation of the device as it is rubbed across a particular piece of fabric, the degree of effective contact and thereby the abrading effect may be variably controlled in a single device.

In one particular embodiment of the invention, the web member 16 and the base and handle member 12 are molded of medium impact styrene plastic and assembled with an appropriately shaped garnet paper, grit 4/0 grade as the abrasive sheet. The two plastic members are held together upon assembly by an application of styrene adhesive. For convenience in use, the bars 18 of the web member 16 are disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the device. However, if desired, they may be aligned at other angles of displacement without departing from the scope of the invention.

Although one particular arrangement of a fabric grooming device in accordance with the invention has been shown and described hereinabove in order to illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly any and all modifications, variations and changes in the fabric grooming device of the invention which are within the scope of the accompanying claims will be considered to form a part of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for grooming fabric comprising an integral base and handle unit having a base portion and attached handle, the base portion having an outwardly curved surface and a pair of non-parallel ridges along the opposite edges thereof, a flexible sheet of abrasive material positioned against the outwardly curved surface of the base portion, and a web member having a curved configuration matching the curve of the surface of the base portion and having a pair of opposite beveled edges engaging the ridges on the base portion and permitting the ready assembly of the device, said web member further comprising a plurality of bars connecting the opposite edges to define a plurality of elongated apertures through which the sheet of abrasive material is exposed to permit a controlled variation in the contact between the abrasive material and the fabric depending upon the direction of relative movement between the fabric and the abrasive material.

2. A two-piece holder for a sheet of abrasive material for grooming fabric comprising a base portion having an outwardly curved surface and a handle portion fabricated in a unitary member, a web member having a curved surface matching the curved surface of the base portion and comprising a pair of non-parallel beveled edges joined by a plurality of bars defining a number of elongated apertures, the base portion having a pair of non-parallel ridges engaging the beveled edges of the web member when the web member is placed in position against the base portion so as to hold a flexible sheet of abrasive material between the web member and the the abrasive material through the apertures to permit a controlled variation in the contact between the abrasive material and the fabric depending upon the direction of relative movement between the fabric and the abrasive material.

3. A device for grooming fabric comprising a base member having an outer curved surface, a handle attached to the base member, a sheet of abrasive material fitting against the curved surface of the base member, a web member having a pair of opposite edges joined by a plurality of substantially parallel bars defining elongated openings to permit a controlled variation in the contact between the abrasive material and the fabric depending upon the direction of relative movement between the fabric and the abrasive material, and means for holding the web member, the abrasive sheet and the base member together in that order in a sandwich configuration.

4. A device for grooming fabric comprising an integral base and handle unit having a base portion and attached handle, the base portion having an outwardly curved surface and a pair of non-parallel ridges along the opposite edges thereof, a flexible sheet of abrasive material positioned against the outwardly curved surface of the base portion, and a web member having a curved configuration matching the curve of the surface of the base portion and having a pair of opposed non-parallel beveled edges engaging the ridges of the base portion in order to afiix the base portion and the web member together on opposite sides of the flexible sheet, said web member further comprising a plurality of bars connecting the opposed edges to define a plurality of elongated apertures to permit a controlled variation in the contact between the abrasive material and the fabric depending upon the direction of relative motion between the fabric and the abrasive material.

5. A device for grooming fabric comprising a base member having an outer curved surface, a sheet of abrasive material fitting against the curved surface of the References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 445,212 1/1891 West 51-392 X 1,401,719 12/1921 Myers 2628 1,480,352 1/1924 Suzuki 26-29 2,429,550 10/1947 Hein 51-392 X FOREIGN PATENTS 510,553 8/1039 Great Britain.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NO 3 ,281 912 November 1 1966 David A. Martin It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 51, for "yarns" read yarn column 4, line 11, after "grit" insert a comma; line 58, after "the", second occurrence, insert base portion while permitting substantial exposure of Signed and sealed this 5th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. S'WlDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

5. A DEVICE FOR GROOMING FABRIC COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING AN OUTER CURVED SURFACE, A SHEET OF ABRASIVE MATERIAL FITTING AGAINST THE CURVED SURFACE OF THE BASE MEMBER, A WEB MEMBER HAVING A CURVED SURFACE MATCHING THE CURVED SURFACE OF THE BASE MEMBER, MEANS FOR HOLDING THE WEB MEMBER, THE SHEET OF ABRASIVE MATERIAL AND THE BASE MEMBER TOGETHER IN THAT ORDER IN A SANDWICH CONFIGURATION, SAID WEB MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF BARS WHICH DEFINE A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THROUGH WHICH THE ABRASIVE MATERIAL MAY BE EXPOSED WITH VARYING DEGREES OF EFFECIVE CONTACT WITH ADJACENT FABRIC IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORIENTATION OF THE BARS RELATIVE TO THE DIRECTION OF MOTION OF THE DEVICE AS IT IS RUBBED AGAINST THE FABRIC. 